a judicially created relationship between child and caretaker which is intended to be permanent and self-sustaining as evidenced by the transfer to the caretaker of the following parental rights with respect to the child: protection, education, care and control of the person, custody of the person, and decisionmaking

legal guardianship

guardian recieves monthly payments from the government for the child's care, similar to foster care or adoption assistance payments; related and non-related foster care parents agree to provide care until the child's emancipation

subsidized guardianship

MEPA/IEPA

The purpose is to eliminate delays in the placement of children for adoption or into foster care when at all possible. Delaying or denying placement on the basis of race, color or national origin of the adoptive/foster parents or the child involved is prohibited.

The law requires diligent recruitment of potential foster homes and adoptive families who reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the children for home foster and adoptive homes are needed.

Deliquency Risk Factors

Early onset of a delinquent act (age 14 or younger)

Past involvement with delinquent behavior

Presence of drug abuse, school or family problems

Association with delinquent peers

Parental mental illness, drug use/abuse

Poor parenting to include supervision or lack of consistency

Childhood neglect and/or abuse

Protective Factors
What keeps most children from commiting a criminal offense?